If you're wondering where to go near Barcelona to really taste the essence of Catalonia, I'd point you to two gems - Girona and Rupit y Pruit. Girona's medieval charm has been made famous around the world by Perfume and Game of Thrones. It's bustling with tourists all year round. But the second destination offers real time travel, intimate and compact. Rupit can be explored in just an hour! Not a trace of modernity, just authentic streets and ramparts. Adventurers come here in high season, so October to March is the best time to get lost in its charm and immerse yourself in its enchanting world.
WHAT BECKONS TOURISTS?
Reputation first. Rupit has earned the intriguing title of "City of Witches". This nickname is often attributed to its historical links with the Inquisition, which undoubtedly left its mark. However, at the height of the witch hunts, from 1618 to 1622, only 4 alleged 'witches' were held in Rupit. Nevertheless, the reputation has survived and now serves as a great marketing tool for the village. Souvenir shops proudly display many trinkets decorated with witches on broomsticks, and restaurants welcome travellers in search of the town's mystique.
The second attractive aspect of the town is its topography. Rupit is built on rugged steps of solidified lava, the remains of a volcanic eruption that took place thousands of years ago. As a result, its streets are undulating, resembling natural staircases.
Breathtaking views are another feature of the town and a reason to visit Rupit. The village is built on a basalt cliff in a volcanic national park at 890 metres above sea level! Check out the scenery below.
A BIT OF HISTORY
The Latin word 'rupes', meaning 'stone', captures the essence of this amazing place. The first written records of Rupit date from the 12th century, but there is reason to believe that people lived here before then. Two surviving churches, the 10th-century San Juan de Fabregas and the 12th-century Church of the Archangel Michael, serve as historical landmarks. The latter, the Church of the Archangel Michael, was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 17th century, giving it its present distinctive appearance.
The city stood at the crossroads of the two most important Roman roads and was used as a fortress. We can only imagine what it looked like as the ancient city was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1462. Rupit was rebuilt in the medieval style. But even today, this tradition is willingly maintained. All the new houses are built in the style of deep antiquity, and at first glance it is difficult to distinguish the new buildings from the centuries-old ones.
It's interesting that the facades of some of the houses here can be seen in Barcelona! They have been reproduced in the "Spanish Village" on Montjuïc Mountain ethnographic museum on Montjuïc hill. In 1978, Rupit was declared a National Historical and Artistic Monument.
ROAD TO Rupit i Pruit
A hundred kilometres from Barcelona, this picturesque town is nestled in the mountains and can be reached via winding narrow roads and steep serpentine roads. If you're prone to motion sickness, consider taking medication beforehand. However, the stunning views you'll encounter along the way will more than compensate for any discomfort. Along the way you'll be treated to glimpses of stunning natural beauty, including wildlife, dramatic cliffs and pastoral scenes of sheep, cows and horses.
At the entrance to Rupit you will see a car park. You should leave your car there and continue on foot (access to the new part of town is only for locals). You will have to pay for parking in the machine at the exit. A day's parking costs €5, three hours - €3.
Rupit is divided by the mountain river into two parts: medieval and more modern. They are connected by a wooden suspension bridge three minutes from the car park. The bridge is charming, but not for the faint-hearted: it shakes and creaks a lot! It was built 80 years ago and can carry no more than 10 people at a time. It offers a steep view of the ancient city on the cliff, as if it were reaching for the sky.
Inside, the atmosphere is also cinematic: houses made of wild grey stone, narrow streets and high stone walls. Despite the abundance of grey, the town is bright and fairy-tale like: the windows are decorated with pots of colourful flowers, the doors are adorned with figures of strange animals, and in every corner lurk objects of craftsmanship. A reminder of the past - of the craftsmen, priests and servants who have lived here for centuries.
According to various sources, there are between 300 and 400 people living in Rupit today. And judging by its tidy appearance, the inhabitants love their town dearly, but are tired of sharing it with crowds of strangers.
- ... Every year more and more people... That's not our Rupit anymore! - complains an old man on the street to his companion. I can't wait for autumn, I've already missed the peace of our streets...
You can't argue with that. What makes this place beautiful is not only its history, but its peaceful way of life, its harmony with nature. We take a path through a hole in one of the houses to see Rupit from all sides. At the foot of the cliff, the path narrows and leads us into the forest.
A local man who met us assured us that we were in for something special. The main thing is to be patient and stay on the path. The path is winding, next to a mountain stream. We admired the view and took a deep breath - the road has sharp drops, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. After 30 minutes through the picturesque forest, we finally saw the cliff. And our trophy - a breathtaking view!
It turns out that two kilometres from Rupit is the Salt de Sallent waterfall. It is 80 metres high! We were there in the low season, so we just enjoyed a beautiful view of the valley from a flat stone bed where the water flows in the season... In the rainy season - early spring - the water rises. The view becomes simply mesmerising!
HOW TO GET TO RUPIT I PRUIT
By car on the C-17 and C-153 motorways. The navigator link is here.
By bus from the Barcelona - Casp - Pau Claris bus station, take the Sagales bus e12 to Vic. From there take bus 464 to Rupit.
